What is Faith? - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, and
majestic in his radiant splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him today and what came to my heart and mind in Hebrews 11:1,

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what
we do not see."

Here the writer of Hebrews provides us a biblical definition of what
faith is. The Bible is adamant that if we wish to spend eternity in
heaven, it will be contingent on whether we embrace Jesus Christ in
faith. Do-gooders need not apply here. Salvation is by faith and faith
alone. Not just faith in anything, but specifically faith in the Son
of God.

Since this is the case, we should be experts in what is meant when we
are told, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so
that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8-9. Also, Romans 3:22a, "This
righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who
believe." Through faith! As I say, we should be experts in what faith
is!

Mirriam-Webster tells us that faith is belief, trust and loyalty to
God. It goes on to say, among other things, that faith is firm belief
in something for which there is no proof, a complete trust. I
certainly believe the creation provides more than adequate proof of
God (see Romans 1:20, "For since the creation of the world God's
invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been
clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people
are without excuse"), but I think we get a good idea of what faith is.

In Hebrews 11:8 we are told that Abraham's faith was a faith that
prompted him to follow God, to obey God. This helps us understand the
kind, or variety of faith God looks for within us. Paul talks about
the kind of faith Abraham had in Romans 4:18-25. It was the nature of
Abraham's faith that brought him a righteous standing with God, a
faith that persuaded him to act on what he knew God wanted him to do.
This is why Abraham is held up to us as our example of the faith God
looks for within us. (It is also the reason Abraham and his
descendants were chosen as the vehicle through which the Father would
bring his Son into the world.)

This is the very faith that James speaks of in James 2:14, "What good
is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but
has no deeds? Can such faith save them?" The rhetorical question
points to the fact that it is the kind of faith Abraham had that
brings us eternal life. It is not just any faith, but a faith that
both informs us and prompts us in the choices we make and the things
we do in this life as we look to God for eternal life.

Got faith?

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send
me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are
receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply
and let me know.